The Earth the Inheritance of the Righteous - It follows that the earth, and not "heaven above the skies," is the inheritance of the saints, and the scene of God's work with the human race.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18).

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16).

And no man hath ascended up to heaven (John 3:13).

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day... For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand (Acts 2:29-34).

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. (John 13:33).

In my Father's house1 are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2,3).

The Father's "house" constitutes the organized polity of the glorified redeemed:
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).

Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6).

Ye (Ephesian believers)... are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:20,21).

The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).

Christ has ascended into heaven to appear before God as an advocate for believers on earth:

Christ has entered... into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24).

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).

Christ will return to bring to consummation the purpose of God initiated at his first appearance:

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21).

If I go... I will come again (John 14:3).

This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11).

The redeemed will be with Christ when he sets up his reign on earth:

They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4).

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).

1 This passage is generally quoted in the opposition to the doctrine affirmed in Propositions 26 and 27; but the comparison of textual terms below will show that it is but a parabolic expression of the Truth, in perfect harmony with all we are seeking to maintain. It will be seen from this that Christ was alluding to the symbolical temple, or "house of many mansions" (composed of living believers), to be manifested in full glory when his kingdom shall be established on the earth.